Travel always makes me a little nervous when it comes to pet care, but I’m happy to report that everything went really smoothly this time around.
Stan had his rabies shot before my trip, and he did absolutely fine with it. No reaction at all, and he bounced right back to his usual goofy self.
He also had a long kennel stay – eight days while I was away. I’m so thankful we made it back in time to pick him up before the kennel closed that last night, so he didn’t have to spend an extra night there. He came home happy and relaxed, which is always such a relief. I don’t love leaving him for that long, but I really do like this kennel. The dogs are in playgroups with other dogs all day long, which I’m sure Stanley loves.
Loved seeing this little one hanging in the yard yesterday!
Now that we’re back, I’m excited to start a new round of agility classes with him on Thursday night. We also just got approved to join the New England Agility Club! I’m looking forward to getting to know this new group and expanding my agility knowledge – who knows, maybe Stan and I will even compete someday.
The Bean Hang
The rest of the crew did great while I was gone, too. I found a wonderful new pet sitter to check on the house and the pets, and she and her team were fantastic. Everything looked great, and all the pets were happy when we got home. She sent daily updates and remembered all the little details I asked about – replacing the dragon’s bulb when it burned out, refilling the dry cat food, emptying the bottoms of the automatic litter boxes, and more. Very professional and detail-oriented, and I’m so glad to have her in our pet-care toolbox now.
Mr. Puck
Traveling always reminds me how important it is to have a pet-care setup you really trust, whether that’s a kennel, a sitter, or a mix of both.
How about you?
What do you do with your pets when you travel – kennel, in-home sitter, trusted friend or family, something else?
How do you decide when a kennel stay is “too long” for your pet?
Do you have any tips for making travel less stressful for nervous pet parents (like me)?
I’d love to hear what works for you and your furry (or scaly!) family members.
Rabies vaccines, picky tummies, and travel jitters — Stanley managed to hit all three this week.
Puck in a Box!
Today was rabies day for my sensitive little guy. Because he’s had vaccine reactions in the past, I asked the vet to do only rabies at this visit, nothing combined and nothing extra. We did his Bordetella/kennel cough last week as a stand-alone, and that one went totally smoothly, which makes me feel a tiny bit braver about the whole vaccine thing. I’m hoping that once we make it through a full year of vaccines with him, I’ll have a better sense of what his body can handle and I’ll feel a little safer each time we walk into the clinic.
Stanley doesn’t want to get up!
Next month, we’ll go back for his distemper combo, again as its own visit. Then June is the big mental hurdle: leptospirosis and Lyme, which is when he had a reaction before. I’m already thinking about how to handle that. A lot of vets consider lepto and Lyme “lifestyle” vaccines and will space them way out or even skip one if the dog’s reaction risk seems higher than their disease risk, especially in small dogs or dogs with a history of vaccine sensitivity. Some clinics will pre-medicate with an antihistamine, keep the dog for a longer observation period, and never give more than one higher-risk shot in a day — all things I’ll be talking through with my vet before we get anywhere near June. For now, I’m keeping my expectations simple: one vaccine at a time, lots of notes about how he does, and no heroics.
Really not ready for Morning
Other than the boring vaccine update, the check-up itself went really well. Stanley’s weight looks good, and his current diet got a thumbs-up. That feels like a minor miracle after how much I’ve tinkered with his food over the past few months. I’ve tried so many different foods with him that I finally hit my limit: I’m done with the experiments. His main food is going to stay Hill’s Science Diet dry for small dogs with sensitive stomachs, with a tablespoon of Happy Howl mixed in for flavor. That’s it. No more “maybe this new thing will be perfect” impulse buys, at least not for a good long while.
Perfect Puck
Because he’s a small dog with a touchy tummy, I really have to watch quantities so he doesn’t end up gassy or with loose poop again. I’m also trying to be more honest with myself about treats. He still gets no table food — other than the very rare bits of American cheese when I absolutely have to get a pill into him — and the rest of his “extras” are pretty boring on purpose. Treats right now are either his regular kibble, some dry chicken bites that I buy, or occasional chicken jerky. It doesn’t sound exciting, but for him, consistent and predictable works better than a constant parade of novelty.
On top of the health stuff, I’m in trip-prep mode and starting to feel that familiar little knot in my stomach about leaving all the pets. I’m very happy with my new house pet sitter and really like her energy; I think (and hope) she’s going to be great with the whole crew. Still, leaving Stanley is the part that makes me pause. I love his kennel and the people there, but eight days is a lot for a little dog who’s so attached to his routine and his people.
The Beautiful Hector
To make it easier on him (and me), I’ll be sending him with all the comforts of home: his own food, his blankets, his bed, and a favorite toy. It’s my way of saying, “This is different, but you’re still safe, and you’re still you.” Between the careful vaccine schedule, the now-boring but steady diet, and a sitter and kennel I trust, I feel like I’m slowly building a safety net around this sensitive, silly little dog — one vet visit and one small decision at a time.
Quick Vaccine Tips for Sensitive Dogs
Ask for one vaccine per visit. Spacing vaccines out makes it easier to spot which one caused a problem and is often easier on sensitive dogs.
Talk to your vet about pre-medication. For dogs with a history of reactions, some vets use an antihistamine (and sometimes a short-acting steroid) before the shot and monitor the dog longer afterward.
Schedule vaccines when you can watch them. Book appointments for times when you can keep an eye on your dog for the rest of the day, and know where your nearest emergency vet is just in case.
Keep clear records. Write down which vaccine was given, the brand, and any reaction you see (even mild ones like extra sleepiness), so you and your vet can make better decisions over time.
Remember that some vaccines are lifestyle-based. Core vaccines (like rabies and distemper) are generally recommended for all dogs, but others (like leptospirosis and Lyme) depend on your dog’s lifestyle and local risk, and may be spaced out or skipped in some sensitive dogs.
Have you ever had to deal with vaccine or other sensitivities with your Pup? Let me know, leave me a comment.
Stanley and I have been trying a little bit of everything lately: manners and obedience, some scent work, and now agility. Agility is, by far, the clear favorite. He lights up as soon as we pull into the parking lot, and even though he’s still distracted and wiggly, we can now get through a small course off leash.
We technically finished this round of classes last night. There is one more class on the schedule, but we’ll have to miss it because I’ll be traveling. I’m already counting the days until we can start again at the end of April.
Yawn!
What Stanley Loves (And Doesn’t) On Course Stanley has strong opinions about obstacles. Tunnels are pure joy — he charges through them with his tail up like he’s on a mission. The balance board? Not his favorite, but he’ll tolerate it if there are good cookies involved.
Last night, for the first time, he decided he really did not like the A‑frame. He slipped a couple of times on the way down, and I’m pretty sure his slightly-long claws aren’t helping with traction. He has a vet appointment on Monday, so I’ll make sure we get those nails trimmed and then reintroduce the A‑frame slowly, with lots of encouragement.
Enjoying the Fire Place
The Zoomies Heard ’Round the Ring The best moment from class last night might be one I wish I had on video. We were practicing having the dogs stay while handlers moved ahead to start the course. Stanley’s version of this was… creative.
He tried so hard to stay with me, and after a few attempts, he just couldn’t contain himself. He got the zoomies, took off, and started sprinting the perimeter of the room. He greeted every dog, did a few jumps, dove into the tunnel, and then did more jumps on his own. He was absolutely thrilled with himself.
Everyone in class was laughing, and of course he soaked up the attention. It was one of those moments where training and pure joy collide, and even though it wasn’t what we were supposed to be doing, it reminded me why I love this sport with him.
In the meantime, we’ll be focusing on some basic manners before the next session starts: staying, waiting, and learning that sometimes we watch quietly instead of doing all the things all at once!
Bedtime!
Big Plans: A Local Agility Club To keep the momentum going, I’ve applied to join a local agility club, and I’m super excited about it. My current instructor is on the board and says it’s a great group of people. They get together at different locations to practice and even go to competitions together.
I love the idea of being around more like‑minded dog people and having a community that understands why we get so excited about tunnels and weave poles. I’m really looking forward to meeting new friends — for both me and Stanley.
Sleepy Puck!
Real Life At Home: Crates, Poops, and Other Pets Outside of class, Stanley is still very much a work in progress. The good news is that he almost never has accidents in the house anymore. The not‑so‑good news is that he still sometimes poops in his crate. It’s become one of those habits I’m not sure I’ll ever completely break, but we’re not giving up yet. Maybe once the weather gets less frigid?
I’m also really looking forward to some warm weather and being able to work with him outside. A little sunshine, more space, and fewer winter distractions will be good for both of us.
The rest of the crew is doing well. Hector is her cranky old self, happily destroying new toys and methodically deconstructing any cardboard box that dares to enter the house. Lizard had a lovely soak in the sink today, and the cats were very entertained watching the whole process.
Warming the Belly by the Fire
So that’s where we are right now: a small dog who thinks tunnels are the best thing ever, a human trying to remember that progress is never a straight line, and a house full of pets keeping life interesting while we wait for spring.
